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The scientific name of Camel is Camelus (genus). Camels are long-necked, even-toed hoofed animals typically found in arid Africa and Asia. There are three species of camels that can be found today:
- Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)
- Wild Bactrian Camel (Camelus ferus)
- Arabian Camel or Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius)
Read More: Biodiversity and Conservation
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Key Terms: Camel, Camelus Dromedarius, Scientific Name, Genus, Bactrian Camel, Arabian Camel, Wild Bactrian Camel, Taxonomy, Kingdom, Phylum
Scientific Name of Camel
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The scientific name of Camel is Camelus (genus). The scientific name of the Rajasthan camel is Camelus dromedarius. India consists of less than 1 million population of dromedary camels, all of which are concentrated in Rajasthan alone. Camels are even-toed hoofed animals with long necks, slender legs and humps on the back. Camels can survive without food or water for very long periods of time, usually by using the fat reserves in their humps.
Camel Diagram
Mainly, there are three species of camels surviving today:
- Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)
- Wild Bactrian Camel (Camelus ferus)
- Arabian Camel or Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius)
The Syrian Camel (Camelus moreli) is now considered an extinct species of camels which lived about 100,000 years back in the Western Syrian desert. The Syrian Camel was one of the largest of the genus, with a height of over 9.8 feet at the shoulders and 13 feet tall as a whole. However, now, the dromedary camels have a height of about 6.6 feet at the shoulders and 11 feet as a whole. The Bactrian camels are about 6 feet at shoulders and 10 feet as a whole.
Extinct Camel Species
There are about six camel species which are now extinct and can be found in the form of fossils:
- Camelus gigas
- Camelus moreli
- Camelus sivalensis
- Camelus thomasi
- Camelus grattardi
- Camelus knoblochi
Scientific Classification of Camel
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Camels can be classified as:
| Type | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Camelidae |
| Genus | Camelus |
| Scientific Name | Camelus Dromedarius |
Characteristics of Camel
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There are numerous characteristics of the Camel. Some of them include:
- An adult dromedary camel has a height of 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) starting from the shoulder and 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) from its hump.
- The average weight of a camel is anywhere between 300 – 1000 Kg.
- The average speed of Camels is 65 km/h (40 mph).
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Also Check: Taxonomic Hierarchy of Plants and Animals
Things to Remember
- The scientific name of Camel is Camelus Dromedarius.
- There are three species of Camels that can be found today, Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus), Wild Bactrian Camel (Camelus ferus), and Arabian Camel or Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius).
- Camels belong to the family of Camelidae.
- Camels can survive without food or water for very long periods, typically by using the fat reserves in their humps.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the scientific name of Camels? [1 mark]
Ans. The scientific name of Camel is Camelus Dromedarius.
Ques. Write a note on Bactrian Camels. [2 marks]
Ans. The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), which is also called the Mongolian camel or domestic Bactrian camel, is different from the other two species of camels and is an even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of Central Asia. The Bactrian Camel has two humps on its back, while the dromedary is only single-humped.
Ques. Which phylum do Camels belong from? [1 mark]
Ans. Camels belong from the phylum Chordata.
Ques. List two major characteristics of Camels. [2 marks]
Ans. Two major characteristics of Camels are:
- Camels are typically found in deserts, meaning they are native to places that are hot and dry.
- An average lifespan of camels is about 40 to 50 years.
Ques. Name three extinct camel species. [3 marks]
Ans. Three extinct camel species are:
- Camelus thomasi
- Camelus grattardi
- Camelus knoblochi
Ques. How can camels survive without food or water for long time periods? [1 mark]
Ans. Camels can survive without food or water for extremely long periods of time. This is because they use their fat reserves stored in the humps.
Ques. What order do Camels belong from? [1 mark]
Ans. Camels belong to the order Artiodactyla.
Ques. What keeps the bodies of camels cool in summer? [1 mark]
Ans. The short coats in camels are the reason why they can keep their bodies cool in summer.
Ques. What are the two types of camels? [1 mark]
Ans. There are two different types of camels, namely Dromedary and Bactrian. The Dromedary camel typically has a single hump, while Bactrian has two.
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